Crimson clover is a handsome fall-plantedannual, widely cultivated in the Middle Atlanticand Southeastern States for forage, a cover crop,and green manure.

Crimson clover is commonly sown in corn at thelast cultivation. If the soil is heavy, a better practiceis to sow after a crop of small grain or on other landwhich can be specially prepared.

Crimson clover will grow on poorer soil than mostclovers and is not particularly dependent upon lime.For this reason it has been widely used for restoringthe productivity of soils which have been abused. Amore important function is to maintain crop yieldson soils which are already moderately rich.

The most common difficulty in growing crimsonclover is the killing of the young stands by drought.This is best prevented by the preparation of a fine,moist, and firmly compacted seed bed.

August and September are the best months forsowing crimson clover, the exact date dependingupon the condition of the soil. Either hulled or unhulledseed may be used, the latter giving somewhatgreater certainty of a stand.

Crimson clover is often sown with a nurse crop ofbuckwheat or cowpeas, to protect it from the sun.A light covering of straw is also effective.

Combinations of crimson clover with oats, hairyvetch, or other fall-sown forage crops give somewhathigher yields and a surer stand than crimson cloveralone.

No insects trouble crimson clover seriously, andthe only severe disease is the stem-rot, or wilt.